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Bernard Antwi Bosiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been given a final opportunity to file his witness statements in the ongoing Samreboi illegal mining case.
The High Court’s decision follows his failure to meet an April 14, 2026 deadline. Bosiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing allegations that he authorised mining activities on his Akonta Mining concession in Samreboi without approval from the sector minister.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the court directed him to open his defence, outlining options such as testifying personally, calling witnesses, or making an unsworn statement.
He was initially required to file his witness statements by March 16, 2026. However, instead of complying, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the submission of no case and subsequently sought to halt proceedings at the trial court pending the outcome.
That application was dismissed, and he was ordered to file his witness statements by April 14 ahead of a case management conference.
When the case was called on Monday, April 20, his legal team had still not complied. His lawyers told the court they had filed a fresh application at the Court of Appeal seeking a stay of proceedings and requested an adjournment.
The request was opposed by Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai, who described the move as a delay tactic. He argued that a repeat application does not automatically justify a stay and urged the court to proceed to conviction, citing what he said was the accused’s failure to mount a defence.
Presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay rejected the adjournment request and instead ordered Bosiako to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026.
A case management conference has been scheduled for May 7, with the court indicating that proceedings will continue while awaiting a decision from the Court of Appeal.